Waterproof hosiery protector



July 1, 1941. s. AscH ETAL 2,247,831

' WATERPROOF HOSIERX PROTECTOR I Filed Dec 21. 1939 INVENTORS Saran. Asa!!- Dondl liRomlorz.

I 1- ATTORNEY awed .Fuiy 3, rear WATERPROOF HOSIERY PROTECTOR sunny Asch and Donald E. Robinson, New York, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,348

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a waterproof hosiery protector.

The invention has for an object the construction of a hosiery protector which is characterized by a waterproof sheath of flexible cloth material adapted to encase the leg from the top of the shoe to about the knee to protect the hosiery, particularly in inclement weather.

Still further the invention contemplates cutting the cloth material of the sheath on the bias to take advantage of the inherent elasticit thereof so that the sheath-is somewhat elastic laterally and so better encase the leg.

Another one of the objects of this invention is to arrange the sheath to be open along one side and to provide fastening elements for closing the side so as to facilitate the engagement and taking off of the protector. Still further the invention proposes the proclaims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a waterproof hosiery protector constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on v the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a waterproof hosiery protector constructed according to a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The waterproof hosiery protector, in accordance with this invention, includes a waterproof cloth sheath ill of flexible cloth material such asoiled silk, rubberized cloth and the like, adapted to enoase the leg from the top of one's shoe to about the knee. The sheath I is cut on the bias so that the inherent elasticity of the cloth material functions in a lateral direction. This serves to cause the sheath to better engage one's leg in form fitting fashion.

The sheath III is open along its front side l0. This open side is provided with fastening elements II by which the opening may be closed. The fastening elements ll comprise a conventional slide fastener of the type which has stop elements II" and il at its starting end capable of complete separation. An elastic strip i2 is mounted between the opposed side portions of the open bottom of the sheath Ill. The top edge of the sheath i0 is finished with a strip of piping material M, or strap. This strap I4 is provided with snap fastener elements l5 at one of its ends cooperative with complementary elements I! at its other end by which the strap may be secured closed when desired. The strap I4 may be made either of elastic 0r waterproof mate rial.

The sheath ll is fashioned in a form fitting manner. Consequently, the lower portion is provided with a vamp area Ill adapted to cover the vamp portion of one's shoe. This vamp area has, elastic inserts i6 mounted in the side portions of,

the opening l0. The slide fastener Ii extends along the elastic inserts i6. With this arrangement there is a suflicient stretch at this point to permit the engagement of the separable elements li and ii when the hosiery protector is engaged on ones leg. When the elements Ii and ll are released the elastic inserts l6 act to snugly engage these parts against the vamp portion of the shoe. Thus there are no loose parts.

The'operation of the protector is as follows: The snap fasteners I5, i5 are opened. The control slide of the fastener II is pulled downwards to its lowermost position and the separable elements Ii and ii opened up. The sheath may now be engaged about one's leg in a manner so that the strap I2 engages beneath the arch of the shoe. Then the separable elements il and ll are inter-engaged and the slide Ii is-drawn upwards to its top position. The strap i4 is then closed by engaging the fasteners l5, ii. The wearer's hosiery is now protected against splashing by mud or damage by snow or rain.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive amodified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the fact that additional dart shaped elastic inserts or cover pieces I! and i9 are arranged upon the hosiery protector at the heel portion and at the top of the leg portion. These dart shaped pieces are constructed of elastic webbing material. The pieces i5 and 05 engage over and encase waterproof inserts iii of dart shape, made from waterproof pleated material and set into openings cut out from the material of the sheath it. These inserts W have the pleats extending from their apexes to the opposite sides as indicated particularly in Fig. 6.

Elastic bands 20 and 29 are extended transversely across the pleats on the opposite sides of each insert W and are fixedly secured at their ends to the material of the inserts. The inner band 23 is sewed by stitches 20F to the adjacent folds of the pleats. The outer band H is sewed by stitches ii to the folds of the ad- The arrangement is such thatjacent pleats. the bands 20 and at function, when normally free, to hold the pleats in formation.

When the hosiery protector is engaged on ones leg it is possible for the straps 20 and 2| and the dart shaped webbing i8 and 89 to stretch to render the protector more form fitting. When the parts stretch the pleats are open to a small extent, or to a larger extent, as needed, and the bands 20 and 2| will maintain the pleats closed as far as possible. When the protector is removed, the bands 20 and 2| will contract and replace the pleats into their original conditions. Inother respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form.

It is to be understood that the size, proportion and ornamentation may be changed as desired to make it appropriate for men, women, infants or children.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

i. A waterproof hosiery protector, comprising nearest a waterproof sheath of flexible cloth material cut on the bias and adapted to encase the le from the top of ones shoe to about the knee and open along one side, fastening elements for closing said open side, and elastic inserts set into the heel portion and the top back edge of said sheath, said elastic inserts each including a dart shaped insert of waterproof material pleated from the apex to the opposite side and set into cutaway material of the sheath, an elastic band extended transversely across the pleats on one side of said insert and secured to the adjacent folds of the pleats, another elastic band extended transversely across said pleats on the other side of said insert and secured tothe adjacent folds of said pleats, and an elastic webbing dart shaped cover element engaged over. said insert and secured at its sides to the edges of said insert.

2. A waterproof hosiery protector, comprising a waterproof sheath of flexible cloth material cut on the bias and adapted to encase the leg from the top of ones shoe to about the knee.

and open along one side, fastening elements for closing said open side, and elastic inserts set into the heel portion and the top back edge of said sheath, said elastic inserts each including a dart shaped insert of waterproof material pleated from the apex to the opposite side and set into cutaway material of the sheath, an elastic band extended transversely across the pleats on one side of said insert and secured to the adjacent folds of the pleats, another elastic band extended transversely across said pleats on the other side of said insert and secured to the adjacent folds of said pleats, and an elastic webbing dart shaped cover element engaged over said insert and secured at its sides to the edges of said insert, said elastic bands acting normally to return said pleats to their original formation when freed.

' SUNNY ASCH.

DONALD E. ROBINSON. 

